have I always told you, sweetheart?” I address our son.
“Don’t make any claims you can’t back up with fact,” he parrots dutifully. Then excitement gets to him. “Can we watch it when we get home?”
“We may camp out in Skagway. Permanently,” Jennings mutters, as he breaks away from our conversation to speak with the tower. Soon, we’re banking to approach.
I turn around but lay a hand on his thigh. Taking his focus away for just a moment, he sends me a smile I’ll never forget. It’s a smile that sears itself onto my heart.
And I know it’s not the landing on the short runway that has my heart pounding inside my chest. It’s knowing I am too, despite whatever obstacles we have to work through this time to keep us together.
Sometimes, a place exists in the world where you feel you could stay forever and you’d never want for anything. Walking hand in hand with Jennings, with Kevin laughing next to us, I realize that place is Skagway, Alaska. Nestled at the base of steep canyon walls, there’s still an excitement that remains within the remnants of this former gold rush town.
Perfectly preserved, I feel like Skagway gives me the hope for the impossible as we wander through the streets up and down the main tourist area. Old and new are woven together seamlessly, preserving the best of the past while moving the tiny town into the future to ensure its existence. Skagway illustrates my fears about Jennings in more ways than one—flooded with love during the summer before the fear of winter months settles in.
Even as I pray with all of my might, Jennings squeezes my hand. I look over and find him intently watching me. “Where did you go?” he asks me quietly.
“Not far,” I tell him honestly. The last place I want to be is far from his side.
Checking over his shoulder to see Kevin is engrossed with reading, he faces me. “Stop worrying. We’re together. Feel this?” He captures my hand and presses it against the thermal he’s wearing against the cooler weather. “Irrevocably, it’s changed. That’s because of the two of you.”
Leaving my hand there, I voice my biggest worry out loud. “How do I survive if you have regrets—”
“Stop.” His voice lashes at me in anger.
Dragging my hand down his chest, I whisper, “It wouldn’t be the first time.” The wind is whipping around us, so I’m certain he can’t hear.
I start to pull away, but his arms tighten. “How do I get you to see I’m not the other people who have let you down?”
But I don’t get a chance to answer when Kevin comes running up to us. “Mom, Dad! Did you know people used to come through here as part of the gold rush?”
I move out of Jennings arms, not answering him. Turning to our son, I listen to everything he has to tell me about the almost forgotten town that resonates so deeply with me.
After a few minutes, Jennings joins us. “Did you both realize that’s not a train? It’s a snow plow?” He points to the old steam engine with a cone on the front. His voice is calm as if we hadn’t just had words, and I let out a sigh of relief.
“Cool! I’m going to check it out.” Kevin dashes off.
I shake my head over his exuberance. “If only half of my students were as enthusiastic as him,” I laugh.
“He must get it naturally from his parents,” Jennings says smoothly, right before he yanks me toward him.
Eyes smoldering, he lowers his head, pressing his cold lips to mine. His hand shifts to the back of my neck, tipping it back. My mouth opens on a gasp. Then his tongue slips inside for a taste, sweeping through slow and sweet. My mind wants to fight, telling me he’s just staking his claim, but my heart? Oh, my heart knows better.
Jennings is telling me I’m his and he’s mine and he doesn’t plan on letting go now or later.
Breaking our kiss, he lifts his head and then declares, “I’m not going to disappear, Owl. Not if you hold on to me. And if it’s within my power, I’ll give everything to you.” Letting me go, he calls out to Kevin that we should get moving if they want to see the next item recommended by the guide.
I open my mouth and close it several times because I have no comeback. All I can do is follow them down Broadway